Premiums for early redemption of lottery entries

ABSTRACT

Described are methods, systems and apparatus for providing an enhanced lottery payout to players who redeem winning lottery entries in accordance with predefined conditions. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a request to redeem a lottery entry, determining that the lottery entry is a winning entry, determining a time associated with the request to redeem, and determining which one of a first payout or a second payout to authorize. The determination is made based on whether the time associated with the request to redeem is greater than a predetermined value. In some embodiments, the second payout is authorized if the time associated with the request to redeem is not greater than the predetermined value.

This application claims priority from International Application No.PCT/US2006/29676 filed Jul. 31, 2006 which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods for enticing playersto redeem their winning lottery entries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a lottery system according to an embodiment of theinvention that includes a plurality of lottery retailer terminals, acommunications network, and a controller;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a lottery retailerterminal;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a lotteryoperator controller;

FIG. 4 is a tabular representation of an embodiment of a lottery gamesdatabase according to the invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are flowcharts illustrating embodiments of lottery entryredemption processes according to the invention;

FIG. 6A is a tabular representation of an embodiment of a lottery ticketdatabase for an on-line lottery game according to the invention;

FIG. 6B is a tabular representation of an embodiment of a lottery ticketdatabase for an instant lottery game according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a tabular representation of an embodiment of a redemptionstatus database according to the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method fordetermining a payout for an eligible, winning lottery entry according tothe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Advantages and features of the invention will become apparent uponreading the contents of this document, and the nature of the variousaspects of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference tothe following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of theinvention, the appended claims and to the drawings attached hereto.

In a typical drawing-style lottery game, a player can purchase a lotteryticket bearing numbers (or other indicia) from a lottery retailer. Theplayer may then wait for a drawing of numbers to occur to determine ifthey have won a prize. The player may be entitled to a prize if some orall of the numbers on the player's ticket correspond to or match thenumbers drawn. Some illustrative examples of drawing-style lottery gamesinclude the Multi-State Lottery Association's “Powerball”™ game,Connecticut Lottery Corp.'s “Classic Lotto” game and the New JerseyLottery's “Pick-3” and “Pick-4” games.

In a typical instant lottery game, players purchase instant lotterytickets that may include one or more concealed play areas (e.g.“scratch-off” latex coated areas) that must be removed in order toreveal potential prize values and/or other game symbols. Certaincombinations of symbols or values (such as alphanumeric indications ofmoney amounts) correspond to prizes, thereby enabling players of instantlottery games to determine fairly quickly whether or not they areentitled to a payout or other award (e.g., goods or services).

Regardless of the type of lottery game, a winning ticket typicallyentitles the player to receive a cash payout or other award. Dependingon the financial structure and/or rules of the game, payouts may rangeanywhere from a nominal level (e.g., a non-zero payout that may bewithin the range of one-dollar ($1.00) to twenty-dollars ($20.00),inclusive) to mid-level (e.g., a payout that may be greater thantwenty-dollars ($20.00) but not greater than five-hundred-dollars($500.00)) to high-level (e.g., any payout greater than five-hundreddollars ($500.00), a top payout associated with the game, etc.).Although the terms “nominal,” “mid-level,” and “high-level” areconvenient for describing, with respect to some embodiments, therelative differences among payout values or ranges for a particulargame, it should be understood by those skilled in the art upon readingthis disclosure that such payout ranges or payout levels may vary fromgame to game, in terms of the number of levels (e.g., one game mighthave only a first prize tier and a second prize tier), the types oflevels (e.g., one type of game may be described as having a cash prizelevel, a merchandise prize level, a merchandise and cash prize level,and a jackpot level), and/or the range in values associated with anyparticular payout level or range (as discussed further below).

Accordingly, in describing some embodiments the relative meanings of theterms “nominal payout”, “mid-level payout”, and “high-level payout,” forexample, should be understood within the context of the prizes beingawarded for a particular lottery game (or the type of lottery game). Forexample, for a drawing-style lottery game wherein each lottery entrycosts one-dollar, a high-level payout may be from one thousand toseveral thousand dollars, a mid-level payout may be from twenty dollarsup to one thousand dollars, and nominal payouts may be associated withany winning lottery entry worth a payout of ten-dollars ($10.00) orless. However, for an instant-style lottery game wherein each lotteryentry costs ten-dollars, for example, a high-level payout may be fromfive-thousand to twenty-five thousand dollars, a mid-level payout may bein the range of from one-hundred up to two thousand dollars, and anominal payout level may be associated with any winning lottery entryworth seventy-five dollars ($75.00) or less. Thus, because in the aboveexamples the top lottery prizes and the amount charged for each lotteryentry for the two lottery games differ by several orders of magnitude,the dollar values corresponding to nominal payouts, mid-range payouts,and large payouts also differ.

The applicants have recognized that redeeming winning lottery ticketsfor nominal level payouts (e.g., minimum or minimal amounts) may be aninconvenience for lottery players. For example, a player may perceivethat redeeming such low value winning tickets requires adisproportionate amount of time and effort relative to the amount of thepayout (e.g., a nominal payout redemption may require the effort of areturn car trip to the lottery retailer from which the player originallypurchased his entry, plus the time waiting on line, etc.). Thisperception of inconvenience often dissuades or delays players fromclaiming a payout and/or a prize in a timely manner.

It has also been recognized that, as more time passes after a lotterygame drawing, the less likely it will be that a nominal level prizewinner will redeem his prize (e.g. because winners of such nominalprizes either lose their tickets, forget about or even discard theticket associated with the nominal level prize). This causes yet anotherproblem, because the opportunity to provide “positive reinforcement”,which occurs when a player redeems a winning lottery ticket and obtainscash, may be lost for many such nominal level prize winners. Having“cash in hand” is more likely to lead to customer retention (i.e.,having the player purchase further lottery entries in the future) thanan unredeemed low-value winning prize ticket. Thus, lottery operators(e.g., the New York State Lottery, the Connecticut State Lottery, andthe like) could benefit greatly from an increase in the occurrence ofnominal level prize redemptions. Furthermore, lottery operators want toaward (and advertise) as many payouts as possible (e.g., as a paid prizetally) to entice players to buy lottery entries, and since nominal levelprizes represent a significant portion of all prizes awarded, it wouldbe beneficial if an increased number of nominal level prizes areactually redeemed by players. Improved participation in lotteries wouldresult in more revenue for the lottery operators that could then beapplied to the operator's benefiting cause(s), such as education-relatedinitiatives, infrastructure improvements, and the like.

In addition, lottery retailers (e.g., such as convenience stores orgrocery stores) also benefit when players redeem nominal level prizes.In particular, players who redeem nominal level winning lottery ticketstend to make additional purchases, such as buying more lottery ticketsand/or other retail items (such as candy, newspapers, toiletries, andthe like) while they are visiting the lottery retailer's establishment.Incremental sales opportunities are therefore afforded by an increase inthe frequency of customer visits. Consequently, increased or repeat“foot traffic” of lottery players would be beneficial to lotteryretailers.

Lottery operators are also constantly seeking new ways to get “casualplayers” to play more frequently. Generally speaking, a “casual player”is a lottery player who (i) is not averse to playing lottery games orpurchasing lottery tickets, but (ii) cannot be predictably relied uponto participate in lottery games and thus to purchase lottery entries.Since it can be assumed that players who regularly participate inlottery games will have regular opportunity to redeem their winningssimply by virtue of their regular participation, it can be furtherassumed that a significant portion of unredeemed nominal level payoutsare going unredeemed by infrequent or casual lottery players. Severalreasons that may support such an assumption range from psychological andsociological reasons to the convenience reasons mentioned above. Forexample, a player may be embarrassed to redeem a lottery ticketassociated with a nominal level payout because it will have nomeaningful impact on his life, and/or may not wish to redeem it when thelottery retail store is crowded with customers due to the socialpressure associated with quickly moving through a check-out line (whichthe player would impede or slow down by claiming the nominal levelpayout).

The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and apparatus that maybe useful for enticing players to redeem their winning lottery entriesearly during a lottery game. In some embodiments, a premium is providedto players who redeem nominal-level prize winning lottery entries in atimely manner, before a predetermined deadline and/or before apredefined event occurs. According to one example embodiment, a playermay win a prize having a base payout of two-dollars, but if he redeemsthat lottery entry within 48 hours of his purchase of that lottery entrythen he will also receive a premium, such as an additional one-dollar sothat in total the player receives a payout of three-dollars. It shouldbe understood, however, that the present methods, systems and apparatusmay useful to entice lottery players to redeem their winning lotteryentries early in the lottery game regardless of whether such winningentries correspond to nominal-level, mid-level, or high-level lotteryprizes.

Described below are non-limiting configurations of general-purposecomponents that may include hardware, software, middleware, and/orsoftware processes and/or steps that may be employed to form a lotterysystem or portions thereof. The lottery system may include one or moredatabases stored in memory of one or more devices, and componentsconfigured to perform various lottery functions including determiningdefault or base payout values and one or more enhanced payout valuesand/or premiums that are associated with redemption of winning lotteryentries of various types of lottery games.

1. Lottery Communications Network

FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment 100 that includes a pluralityof lottery retailer terminals 102-1 to 102-N, a communications network104 and a controller 106. Generally, any or all of the retailerterminals 102-1 to 102-N may operate to: (i) receive informationassociated with one or more lottery tickets including such data as: (a)ticket and/or lottery entry identifier(s), (b) entry indicia and (c)redemption values (base payout values and/or modified or enhanced payoutvalues); (ii) transmit any or all of the received information to thecontroller 106 via the communications network 104; and (iii) outputinformation including such data as: (d) information defining lotteryentries and (e) information associated with one or more redemptionvalues or benefits.

In general, each retailer terminal 102-1 to 102-N shown in FIG. 1 willcorrespond to (or be associated with) a particular lottery retailer. Forexample, retailer terminal 1 (102-1) of FIG. 1 may be associated with afirst lottery retailer such as a convenience store, and retailerterminal 2 (102-2) of FIG. 1 may be associated with a second lotteryretailer such as a supermarket. It should be understood that any numberof lottery retailer terminals might be employed in a system 100, alongwith any number of corresponding controllers 106.

The controller 106 may operate to: (i) receive and store informationassociated with one or more lottery tickets including such data as: (a)ticket/entry identifier(s) and (b) entry indicia; (ii) determine atleast a first redemption value associated with a lottery ticket; (iii)receive a redemption request associated with the lottery ticket; (iv)determine a time associated with the redemption request; (v) determine amodified redemption value (i.e., an increased value) for use when aplayer redeems his winning lottery entry early, according to at leastone predefined condition (for example, the player qualifies for themodified redemption value if he makes a redemption request for a winninglottery entry at a time that is not later than a predefined date); and(vi) transmit an indication of the modified redemption value to alottery retailer terminal (e.g., for output or display to a lotteryplayer and/or lottery terminal operator), as will be described below.

In some embodiments, a retailer terminal 102-1 of FIG. 1 may beconfigured to perform some or all of the functions of the controller106. Thus, in some embodiments, the controller 106 and the lotteryretailer terminal 102-1 (or another given retailer terminal andcontroller pairing) may be considered as the same “device”.

Generally, as explained above, the communications network of FIG. 1 maycomprise or include one or more local and/or wide-area network(s),proprietary and/or public network(s) (e.g., the Internet) forfacilitating two-way data communications between the retailer terminals102-1 to 102-N and the controller 106. The lottery controller maycommunicate with lottery retailer terminals directly or indirectly, viaa wired or wireless medium such as the Internet, via a local areanetwork (LAN), via a wide area network (WAN), via an Ethernet, via aToken Ring, a telephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an opticalcommunications line, a satellite communications link, or via anyappropriate communications means or combination of communications means.Any number and type of devices may be in communication with the lotterycontroller, and communication between the lottery retailer terminals andthe lottery controller 106 may be direct or indirect, such as over theInternet through a Web site maintained by computer on a remote server,or over an online data network including commercial online serviceproviders, bulletin board systems and the like. In some embodiments, thedevices may communicate with one another and/or the computer over RF,cable TV, satellite links and the like. A variety of communicationsprotocols may be part of any such communications system, including butnot limited to: Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth™, andTCP/IP.

Those skilled in the art will understand that devices in communicationwith each other need not be continually transmitting to each other. Onthe contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other asnecessary, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of thetime. For example, a device in communication with another device via theInternet may not transmit data to the other device for days or weeks ata time. In some embodiments, a server computer may not be necessaryand/or preferred. For example, in one or more embodiments, methodsdescribed herein may be practiced on a stand-alone gaming device and/ora gaming device in communication only with one or more other gamingdevices. In such an embodiment, any functions described as performed bythe computer or data described as stored on the computer may instead beperformed by or stored on one or more gaming devices.

2. Lottery Retailer Terminal

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 of some exemplary components of a lotteryretailer terminal. The lottery retailer terminal 200 may include one ormore processor(s) 202 such as the PENTIUM® processor, manufactured byINTEL Corporation, or other processors manufactured by other companies,such as the AMD Athlon® processor manufactured by the Advance MicroDevices company. Generally, the processor is operative to perform orprocess instructions, and in particular, to operate in accordance withthe various methods described herein. For example, the processor 202 maybe operable to allow the lottery retailer terminal 200 to transmit datato (and receive data from) the controller 106 of FIG. 1. Morespecifically, the processor 202 may enable the transmission of datadefining or identifying a lottery ticket or entry.

Accordingly, the lottery retailer terminal 200 may further include oneor more input device(s) 204. The input devices may include componentssuch as an optical scanner and/or a barcode scanner, for reading and/orfor deriving information associated with a lottery entry. For example, alottery ticket may include registration marks, authenticity data,various codes, micro-printed indicia, one or more sense marks, and/orother lottery indicia that must be read, for example, to distinguishbetween one or more lottery entries (which may all be contained on onelottery ticket, for example). Examples of additional input devicesinclude, but are not limited to, a keypad, a mouse, an image capturingdevice (e.g., an optical character recognition (OCR) device), abiometric reader, a portable storage device (e.g., a memory stick), andthe like.

According to some embodiments, the lottery retailer terminal inputdevice(s) 204 may comprise or include a clock. The clock may be employedto detect, derive and/or append time and/or date information for use bythe controller 106 to: (i) create a data record corresponding to lotterytickets or lottery entries purchased at the lottery retailer terminal200, and/or (ii) to determine redemption time and/or date informationassociated with lottery tickets and/or lottery entries, and/or (iii)determine whether a lottery player has redeemed his ticket in a mannerthat qualifies him to receive a premium in addition to a base value (forexample, if the player makes a lottery ticket redemption request withina predetermined time frame (or relative to the occurrence of a givenevent)).

The lottery retailer terminal 200 of FIG. 2 may further include one ormore output device(s) 206. Such output device(s) 206 may include suchcomponents as a display for outputting information to a lottery playeror to a terminal operator (e.g., win/loss information and/or payoutamounts), one or more benefit output devices (e.g., a cash drawer, acurrency dispenser), a printer for producing a physical record (e.g.,paper slip, receipt, ticket, voucher, coupon, etc.) that defines alottery ticket or lottery entry, audio/video output device(s), and thelike.

The lottery retailer terminal 200 may also include one or morecommunications port(s) 208, such as a serial port, modem or the like.Generally, the communications port 208 may be operable to facilitatetwo-way data communications between (i) the lottery retailer terminal200 and (ii) the controller 106 shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with someembodiments, the communications port 208 may operate to facilitate thetransmission of information between the lottery retailer terminal 200and a player device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellphone and/or a dedicated (e.g., a proprietary) device.

The lottery retailer terminal 200 may further include a data storagedevice 210 such as a hard disk, optical or magnetic media, random accessmemory (RAM) and/or read-only memory (ROM), or the like memory device.Generally, the lottery retailer terminal data storage device 210 storesa software program, the software program enabling the processor 202 ofthe retailer terminal 200 to perform various functions including some orall of the various steps described herein. For example, as noted abovewith respect to FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments, theretailer terminal 200 may be configured to perform some or all of thefunctions of the controller (and vice versa) such that the controller106 and the lottery retailer terminal 200 (or, referring to FIG. 1, agiven lottery terminal and controller pairing) may be considered as thesame “device”. An example retailer terminal available in the marketplaceis the EXTREMA® clerk-operated lottery terminal, distributed byScientific Games Corporation of Alpharetta, Ga.

In some embodiments, a lottery sales device may be utilized in place ofa lottery retailer terminal 200. Such a lottery sales device may beimplemented as a system controller, a dedicated hardware circuit, anappropriately programmed general-purpose computer, or any otherequivalent electronic, mechanical or electromechanical device. Thus, invarious embodiments, a lottery sales device may comprise, for example, aVideo Lottery Terminal that may include a touch sensitive screen for useby a player, a personal computer (e.g., which communicates with a remotelottery server), a telephone, or a portable handheld device (e.g., adevice similar to a personal digital assistant (PDA) or other analog ordigital communications device). The lottery sales device may compriseany or all of the devices of the aforementioned systems. In someembodiments, a user device such as a PDA, cell phone, and/or portablegaming unit (e.g. the Playstation™ Portable (PSP), distributed by SonyCorporation) may be used in place of, or in addition to, some or all ofthe device components.

3. Lottery Operator Controller

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the componentsof a lottery operator controller 300. Similar to the lottery retailerterminal 200 of FIG. 2, the lottery operator controller 300 may includeone or more processor(s) 302 such as the PENTIUM® processor manufacturedby INTEL Corporation, or the AMD Athlon® processor manufactured by theAdvance Micro Devices company. Such a processor 302 functions to processinstructions, and in particular, to operate in accordance with variousmethods described herein. For example, the processor 302 may operate toallow the lottery operator controller 300 to transmit data to (andreceive data from) the lottery retailer terminal 200 shown in FIG. 2.More specifically, the controller processor 302 may enable thetransmission of data defining or identifying a lottery ticket or entry,as well as information defining one or more payout(s) associated withthat lottery ticket to a specific one of the lottery retailer terminals102-1 to 102-N shown in the lottery network 100 of FIG. 1. Thus, thelottery operator controller may be implemented as a system controller, adedicated hardware circuit, an appropriately programmed general-purposecomputer, or any other equivalent electronic, mechanical orelectromechanical device. In various embodiments, a lottery operatorcontroller may comprise, for example, a personal computer (e.g., whichcommunicates with a remote lottery sales terminal) or mainframecomputer.

The lottery operator controller 300 may further include one or moreinput device(s) 304. Examples of such input devices include a keypad, amouse, a touch-screen, a random number generator, a microphone, andother digital or analog input devices. According to some embodiments,the lottery operator controller input device(s) 304 may comprise orinclude a clock. As described above, the clock may be employed to derivetime and/or date information for use by the lottery controller 300 to(i) generate a data record corresponding to lottery tickets or lotteryentries purchased at the lottery retailer terminal 200, and/or (ii)determine redemption time and/or date information associated withlottery tickets and/or lottery entries, and/or (iii) determine whether alottery player has redeemed his ticket in a manner that qualifies him toreceive a premium in addition to a base value (for example, if theplayer makes a lottery ticket redemption request within a predeterminedtime frame (or relative to the occurrence of a given event)).

The embodiment of the lottery operator controller 300 further includesone or more output device(s) 306. Example of output devices 306 includea monitor or other display for outputting information to a user of thelottery operator controller (e.g., for displaying information such asstatistical or sales data, win and loss information and/or payoutamounts), a printer for producing a physical record (e.g., a report, apaper slip, a voucher, a coupon, a ticket) of such data, and the like.In addition, the lottery operator controller 300 may include one or morecommunications ports 308, such as a serial port, modem or the like,operable to facilitate two-way data communications between (i) theoperator controller 300 and (ii) one or more lottery retailer terminals200, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The lottery operator controller 300 may also include a data storagedevice 310 (e.g., a hard disk or hard drive, a media-based (removable)memory, or the like). In some embodiments, the lottery operatorcontroller data storage device 310 stores at least one software program312, which includes a program to enable the processor 302 to performsome or all of the various steps and functions of at least oneimplementation of the methods described in detail herein (for example,the process 500 explained below with respect to FIG. 5A). In addition,the lottery operator controller data storage device 310 may operate tostore (i) a lottery games database 314 (described below with respect tothe database 400 shown in FIG. 4), (ii) a lottery ticket database 316(described below with respect to the database 600 and/or the database650 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively), and (iii) a redemptionstatus database 318 (described below with respect to the database 700shown in FIG. 7).

In some embodiments, the lottery operator controller may include alottery ticket server device that is located at a lottery ticketprinting facility, and may also function to manage the ticket printingprocess. The lottery operator controller may also function to developthe lottery game matrix (e.g., determining base payouts, enhancedpayouts, win frequencies and the like) and to match static lotterycontent with secure paytable (or payout distribution) data. In someembodiments, a lottery ticket printer device for use in such lotterysystems may utilize the game matrix information from the lottery serverand may apply it to the secure paytable data.

4. Other Devices

In some embodiments, a kiosk (not shown) may be configured to execute orassist in the execution of various lottery game processes. In animplementation, a kiosk may comprise a processor and a storage device ormemory as described above. A kiosk may also comprise various inputdevices (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, buttons, an optical scanner forreading barcodes or other indicia, a CCD camera, and the like), outputdevices (e.g., a display screen, audio speakers), benefit output devices(e.g., a coin tray, a currency dispenser), communications ports, and thelike. A kiosk may be configured to communicate with a lottery controlleror lottery server. In some embodiments, kiosks may execute or assist inthe execution of various lottery functions, as described herein.

In some embodiments, players may use one or more computing devices toobtain more information about the lottery games, and/or the specificlottery game that the player is playing. For example, a player mayutilize a personal computer to access a website that contains lotterygame hints, lottery game instructions, winning lottery entry payoutinformation that includes base payout information and enhanced payoutinformation, and the like.

5. Lottery Games Database

FIG. 4 is a tabular representation of an embodiment of the lotteryoperator controller lottery games database 400. The lottery gamesdatabase 400 stores data associated with one or more lottery gamesand/or lottery game formats. It should be understood that the variousdatabase examples described herein include illustrative accompanyingdata as shown in the drawings. Consequently, the data appearing in thedatabases is exemplary in nature, and such data entries are not limitingwith regard to functionality or to the types of data that may be storedtherein.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, each record in the lottery games databasegenerally defines a game available for play and/or for purchase oflottery entries by a lottery player. In particular, for each gamedefined by an entry in the lottery games database 400, a game identifierfield 402 stores data that uniquely identifies the lottery game of thecorresponding record. The data stored in the game identifier field 402may comprise, for each available game, a unique numeric, alphanumeric orother type of code that uniquely identifies the lottery game defined bythe corresponding entry.

For each lottery game identified by an entry in the game identifierfield 402, one or more associated game rules field(s) 406 may store dataor information, including a textual description of the criteria requiredof a lottery entry to be successful (i.e., to win a prize) in thecorresponding lottery game. For example, referring to row R400-1, thegame identified as “GM-DRAW-001” in the game identifier field 402corresponds to lottery game rules based on a standard “Pick 6” on-linelottery game, wherein a player selects six numbers and winning lotteryentries match at least 3 of 6 drawn numbers. The lottery games database400 also includes a Payout Criteria 1 field 408, Payout 1 field 410,Payout Criteria N field 412 and a Payout N field 414. For any particular“Pick-6” lottery game, more or less payout criteria and payout fieldswould be included, which will be explained in more detail below.

For example, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation provides a “Pick-6”on-line lottery game called “Classic Lotto” wherein players go to alottery retailer and fill out a “Classic Lotto Play Slip” by choosingsix different numbers from the ordinal range of 1 to 44 (inclusive) ineach individual play section or board (alternately, a computer canrandomly pick the numbers for the player, if the player so chooses).Players of “Classic Lotto” can play up to five boards on each selectionslip, and pay one-dollar per entry. For example, a lottery player canpay a clerk at a lottery retailer five dollars to purchase five lotteryentries, wherein each lottery entry includes six numbers selected fromthe 44 available choices. Thus, the player may fill in a pay slip andhand it to the clerk, who then enters the pay slip into the retailerterminal. The lottery terminal then issues a printed “Classic Lotto”ticket for the player to take home. The player keeps the ticket untilthe drawing for that lottery game, and then compares the number of hislottery entries to the drawn numbers to determine if he has won anyprize(s).

Turning again to FIG. 4, row R400-1 illustrates a Pick-6 lottery gameidentified as “GM-DRAW-001”, and the payout criteria field 408 indicatesthat if the player matches 3 out of 6 drawn numbers, then a payout ofthree (3) dollars is made (see Payout Field 410). Larger payouts wouldalso be determined for matching 4 out of 6 and for matching 5 out of 6numbers as well (which payout criteria is not shown). The PayoutCriteria N field 412 indicates that a win of 6 out of 6 matches pays outthe top prize, and the top prize is yet to be determined as shown inPayout N field 414 (because the top prize is typically calculated by thelottery authority as a percentage of the total amount of money spent byplayers to purchase tickets, and the calculation may also include othervariables that would serve to either increase or decrease the top prizevalue).

FIG. 4 also illustrates that, for each game corresponding to an entry inthe game identifier field 402, one or more payout criteria fields (408and 412) and a corresponding payout field (410 and 414) store dataspecifying the actual criteria and corresponding payouts for lotterytickets that satisfy such criteria. For example, using the “Pick-6”example above, typical payout criteria and corresponding payouts maycomprise:

Criteria Payout Match 0/6 0 Match 1/6 0 Match 2/6 0 Match 3/6 $3 Match4/6 $50 Match 5/6 $2,000 Match 6/6 Win Jackpot/Top Prize

FIG. 4 also includes data for other lottery games. In particular, rowR400-2 for lottery game GM-DRAW-002 is a “Pick-3” type of game, and thedata includes a game rule 406 wherein a player must match the threedrawn numbers in exact order. The payout criteria one 408 for matchingone number out of the three drawn in the correct order corresponds to anominal-level payout value of three-dollars as shown in the Payout 1field 410. In addition, a payout criteria for matching two out of threenumbers (not shown) is stored, and payout criteria N (which is the thirdcriteria in this example) recites that if the player matches all threenumbers in order, then that lottery ticket corresponds to a high-levelbase payout 414 of five hundred dollars.

Referring to row R400-3, the lottery game GM-DRAW-003 corresponds to a“Pick-4” type of game, and includes a game rule 406 wherein a player maymatch up to four drawn numbers in any order. The Payout Criteria 1 infield 408 for matching two numbers out of the four drawn corresponds toa nominal-level payout value of five-dollars as shown in Payout 1 field410. In addition, Payout Criteria N (which is the fourth criteria forthis example) recites that if the player matches all four numbers (inexact order) then a high-level payout 414 of five thousand dollars ismade. As explained earlier, the database 400 also includes entries formatching three out of the four numbers (with associated payout amounts)as well.

Row R400-(N−1) corresponds to lottery game GM-DRAW-N, which is a“Pick-10” type of game that includes a game rule 406 specifying that aplayer may select up to 10 numbers from a field or board of 80 numbers.If a player only picks one spot (i.e., only picks one number) asspecified in the Payout 1 field 408, and that spot matches a drawnnumber then the player wins a nominal-level two-dollar prize as shown inthe Payout 1 field 410. However, if the player picks ten spots and allten match the drawn numbers as specified in Payout Criteria N field 412,then as shown in Payout N field 414 he is entitled to a high-level,one-hundred thousand dollar prize. As explained above, database entrieswould also exist to include all intermediate winning combinations, forexample, payout amounts for obtaining three out of three matchesnumbers, four out of four matches, four out of five matches, five out offive matches (and possibly prizes for matching most numbers of a group,such as obtaining five out of six matches, six out of seven matches, andthe like), and any other matching sets or match permutations as desired.

Lastly, row R400-N illustrates data for lottery game GM-INSTANT-N, whichcorresponds to an instant lottery game. This lottery game includes agame rule 406 specifying that a player scratches off the play area toreveal symbols, and if any three of such symbols match, then the prizepayout corresponds to the symbols that match. In this case, the gamerules are equivalent to the payout criteria. For example, if the playerscratches off three matching symbols that each indicate “Two Dollars”,then a nominal level prize payout of two-dollars is awarded as indicatedin the Payout 1 field 410. If the player matches three symbols that eachindicates “$1,000.00”, then as shown in Payout N field 414 the player isentitled to that high-level amount as a prize.

6. Redemption Processes

FIGS. 5A to 5D are flowcharts illustrating lottery entry redemptionprocesses according to various embodiments. The lottery operatorcontroller 106 shown in FIG. 1 (and the lottery operator controller 300referred to in FIG. 3) in conjunction with the various data structuresdescribed herein may perform the methods of FIGS. 5A to 5D. It should beunderstood that, although the methods illustrated by FIGS. 5A to 5D aredescribed as a series of numeric steps, the numeric designations are notintended to impart or imply a specific order to the steps. Rather, thesteps of the methods in FIGS. 5A to 5D may be performed in any orderthat is practicable and may include the addition and/or omission of oneor more particular steps.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart of a lottery entry redemption process 500according to an embodiment. A redemption request to redeem a lotteryentry is received 502, and then a determination is made as to whetherthe lottery entry is a winning entry 504. For example, a player presentshis lottery ticket to a clerk who scans a barcode on the lottery ticket(corresponding to a lottery entry identifier) into a retail lotteryterminal, and then a lottery server provides information about thatlottery entry which is displayed to the clerk. The lottery entryidentifying information may be transmitted from the lottery retailerterminal to the lottery operator controller, which then compares theticket identifier and/or other indicia to data that may be stored in oneor more databases. For example, the controller 106 shown in FIG. 1 mayreceive a redemption request by way of the communications network 104from any of the retailer terminal(s) 102-1 to 102-N and then verify thatthe lottery ticket corresponds to a winning entry in a database of alottery game that has not expired.

In some embodiments, a lottery controller may determine a firstredemption value (or a first payout value) associated with each winninglottery ticket of a particular lottery game. For example, the firstpayout value may be a default or base value that is determined based onone or more payout criteria and/or game rules, as described above withrespect to the lottery games database of FIG. 4. In an on-line gameembodiment, for example, the first payout may be determined inaccordance with a pay table and/or one or more game rule(s). Inaccordance with an instant-game embodiment, because each lottery ticketoutcome is predetermined, the first payout value of a particular lotteryticket may be retrieved from a database (e.g., see the lottery ticketdatabase of FIG. 6B, which will be explained in detail below). In someembodiments, the first payout value of a particular lottery ticket maybe calculated and/or determined in direct response to the request (e.g.,on an “as needed” basis).

In some embodiments, a redemption request may be associated with morethan one lottery ticket or lottery entry. For example, a single ticketpurchased by a player may include two or more lottery entries, and/or aplayer may present multiple entries via a corresponding number ofmultiple tickets. Thus, according to some embodiments, more than oneentry may be presented via one ticket, with each entry being associatedwith a different win status (e.g., a player may present a ticketincluding five entries wherein two entries correspond to winning entriesand the other three entries are non-winners).

Referring again to FIG. 5A, if the lottery entry is not a winning entrythen the process ends 506. However, if the lottery entry is a winningentry, then a time associated with the redemption request is determined508. In various embodiments, the determination of a time associated witha redemption request may include determining an actual time associatedwith the request (e.g., by way of the controller clock element describedabove with respect to FIG. 3), and/or may include determining an elapsedtime associated with the redemption request (e.g., the controller maycalculate that less than twenty-four hours elapsed since the occurrenceof a lottery drawing and the time the lottery ticket was presented forredemption by associating the time of redemption with a received ticketidentifier).

After step 508, the time is checked to see if it is greater than apredetermined value 510. If it is, then a first payout is authorized512, but if it is not, then a second payout is authorized 514. In someadvantageous embodiments the second payout is greater than the firstpayout, which entices players to promptly redeem their winning lotteryentries. In some embodiments, the lottery controller authorizes theissuance of a lottery payout by transmitting information associated withthe determined payout to the appropriate lottery retailer terminal. Suchinformation may then be used to instruct a lottery terminal operator(such as a retail store clerk or cashier) to confer the payout to theplayer (e.g., a display associated with the terminal may output and/ordisplay an indication to the operator to pay the player an amount ofcash).

According to some embodiments, the predetermined time and/or otherindications, such as announcements or instructions, may be printed onthe lottery ticket or lottery entry at time of purchase and/or issuanceto the player (e.g., “If this is a winning lottery ticket, redeem it by6:00 PM on May 25, 2006 for an additional redemption bonus”). Suchinformation may be beneficial to the player because he is made aware ofwhat is required to qualify for and receive an increased or extra prize(which may be a modified or enhance redemption value). For example, theplayer is made aware of a time period by way of the lottery entry itselfthat would qualify him to obtain the premium. Further, such an approachserves to minimize any player confusion as to when his or her lotteryentry is in fact redeemable for a modified redemption value and/or apremium. For example, in addition to a base payout, the player mayreceive store credit, coupons, frequent flyer miles, another lotterygame entry, one or more rebate(s), product(s) or service(s), and thelike. According to some embodiments, the premium received by the playermay include a benefit provided by a third-party that may be unaffiliatedwith the lottery retailer and/or the lottery operator (e.g., a free ordiscounted product from a retailer other than the redeeming lotteryretailer). Alternatively, the redeeming lottery retailer may sponsor orprovide the premium (e.g., a gas station that is a lottery retailer mayoffer a $0.05 discount per gallon of gasoline).

FIG. 5B is a flowchart depicting another lottery entry redemptionprocess 525 according to an embodiment. A redemption request to redeeman eligible lottery entry is received 526, and then a determination ismade as to whether the lottery entry is a winning entry 528. A winning,eligible lottery ticket may be defined as a lottery ticket that includesat least one entry associated with a winning outcome for that lotterygame, and an eligible lottery ticket is one that is associated with alottery game that has not yet expired (for example, an expirationdeadline for redeeming tickets associated with a particular lottery gamemay be designated, such as one year from the date of the drawing of thewinning numbers for the lottery game). If the lottery entry is not awinning entry then the process ends 530. However, if the lottery entryis a winning entry, then a determination is made as to whether apredefined event has occurred 532. If the event has occurred, then afirst payout is authorized 534, but if it has not yet occurred then asecond payout is authorized 536, wherein the second payout is greaterthan the first payout.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 5B, instead of determining a timeassociated with the redemption request, the lottery controller mayassociate a base value with each winning lottery entry, and then operateto modify (increase) the base value until such time as the occurrence ofa terminating event. For example, players may receive a modifiedredemption value (e.g., twice the base value) for every nominal levelwinning lottery entry that is redeemed until such time that apredetermined number (a predetermined threshold) of winning lotteryentries and/or lottery tickets having been redeemed. For example,players may receive a modified or enhanced redemption value (a secondpayout amount) for their nominal level winning entries until a total oftwo hundred redemptions are made. In another example, the predefinedevent that terminates enhanced or premium payouts may be the award ofthe top prize for this lottery game.

According to some embodiments, the predetermined event and/or otherindications, such as announcements or instructions, may be printed onthe lottery ticket or lottery entry at time of purchase and/or issuanceto the player (e.g., “If this is a winning lottery ticket, redeem itbefore the top prize is claimed for this lottery game”). Suchinformation may be beneficial to the player because he is made aware ofwhat is required to qualify for and receive the second payout. Providingsuch information minimizes any player confusion regarding how and whento redeem a winning lottery entry to receive an increased payout and/ora premium.

FIG. 5C is a flowchart depicting yet another lottery entry redemptionprocess 550 according to an embodiment. A redemption request for awinning lottery entry is received 552, and then a determination is madeas to whether a predetermined threshold amount of prize money has beenawarded. If the threshold amount has been reached, then a base payout isauthorized 556. But if the threshold amount has not yet been reached,then an enhanced payout is authorized 558. For example, if a particularlottery game has a top prize of $25,000 (and a total payout of $75,000),then the threshold amount may be set at, for example, $7,500. Thus, allwinning lottery entries redeemed before payouts for winning lotteryentries totals winnings of $7,500 (the threshold amount) qualify, forexample, for a ten percent (10%) premium added to their base payout (anenhanced payout). For example, a winner of a $25 payout who redeems hislottery ticket before $7,500 of total prize money has been awarded willcollect $27.50 (the $25.00 prize plus the 10% premium of $2.50). Such aprocess encourages players to redeem their winning lottery entries earlyin the lottery game.

FIG. 5D is another flowchart depicting a lottery entry redemptionprocess 575 according to an embodiment. A redemption request to redeem alottery entry is received 576, and then a determination is made 578 asto whether the lottery entry is a winning entry. If the lottery entry isnot a winning entry then the process ends 580. However, if the lotteryentry is a winning entry, then a determination is made 582 as to whetherthe redemption request occurred prior to a predetermined deadline. (Forexample, the predetermined deadline may be 24 hours from the purchasetime and date of that lottery entry.) If the deadline has not passed,then an enhanced payout is authorized 584, but if the redemption requestoccurred after the deadline, then a base payout is authorized 586. Thebenefit of receiving an enhanced payout before a deadline passes enticesplayers to redeem their winning lottery entries promptly. As describedabove, instructions regarding how and when to redeem a wining lotteryentry in order to qualify to receive a premium may be printed on eachlottery ticket of a lottery game, so that players are aware of theconditions and requirements for qualifying to receive the premiumawards.

Thus, in some embodiments, first and second redemption values (i.e.,first and second payouts) may be predetermined for each winning lotteryentry. In some embodiments, the second redemption value may have ahigher prize value than the first redemption value, and thus the secondredemption value can be awarded if the time associated with theredemption request is not greater than a predetermined time (e.g., anelapsed time and/or an actual time). Such a process enables a lotteryoperator or lottery administrator to modify or enhance a base or defaultredemption value that is associated with a winning lottery ticket (e.g.,a lottery entry in a drawing-type lottery game), provided that thewinning lottery ticket is presented for redemption within apredetermined time frame (or prior to a given predetermined event, asdescribed further herein below). For example, a lottery operator oradministrator may modify and/or increase the redemption value of awinning lottery entry to reflect a premium above a base redemption value(for example, by authorizing an award of an additional ten percent abovebase value), provided that the lottery entry is presented for redemptionwithin 48 hours of a lottery drawing associated with the lottery entry.In some embodiments, the winning lottery entries that may be redeemedfor an increased or enhanced value may be required to belong to aspecific class of lottery entries, such as those lottery entriesassociated with nominal-level prize values.

According to some embodiments, certain “instant” and/or “scratch-off”game tickets may be temporarily associated with modified or enhancedredemption values. For example, every winning ticket from a given poolof tickets that is redeemed prior to anyone winning the top jackpot maybe eligible to receive a fifteen percent (15%) redemption bonus inaddition to the base or default redemption value of the winning ticket.Alternatively, winning instant tickets associated with certain payouts(e.g., nominal-level payouts, and/or the earliest issued payouts of agiven prize level (mid-level, high-level, and the like) that areredeemed in a timely manner (e.g., before a predetermined deadlineand/or before a predefined event occurs) may be eligible to qualify fora redemption value bonus.

According to some embodiments, the modification of the redemption valueof a lottery entry (such as a scratch-off ticket) may include adding acash value, non-cash value or a combination premium in addition to adefault redemption value (which may be a base value). For example,according to the rules of a given lottery game, it may be determinedthat a lottery entry is associated with a base payout of three-dollars($3.00). Thereafter, that lottery entry may be associated with a secondpayout (a modified or enhanced payout) of four-dollars and fifty cents($4.50) for a limited period of time following the initial determinationof the base payout (e.g., 24 hours from the purchase date, and/or 48hours from the drawing date, and/or a period of time (or actual time)prior to the next lottery drawing, and the like). Thus, various types ofdeadlines or expiration conditions can be used, alone or in combination,after which the player is only eligible to receive the first payoutvalue (i.e., a default or base payout amount). For example, theexpiration condition may include a predetermined period of time that haselapsed since the sale of the lottery ticket, and/or a period of timethat has elapsed since a drawing occurred, and/or the awarding of ajackpot, and/or may include the awarding of a threshold number of prizes(or prize value). The threshold number of prizes may include prizes of agiven type (e.g., the first 1,000 instances of $3 prizes (or $3,000) ina newly-offered instant game). If a player elects to redeem his winninglottery entry within the predetermined timeframe, and/or before thepredetermined expiration condition occurs, then the player receives thesecond payout (which is an increased or enhanced redemption value ofhigher value than the base or default redemption value). It is notedthat one or more deadlines and/or conditions may be associated with awinning lottery entry that must be satisfied in order for the player toobtain a second payout that has a greater value than a first payout.

In some embodiments, the second payout (an enhanced payout) may includea base payout plus a non-cash premium. Thus, the second payout mayinclude cash plus a non-cash premium. Examples of various non-cashpremiums include, but are not limited to, free or discounted entries ina different and/or a future lottery game, free or discounted services ormerchandise, frequent flyer miles, award points, credits and/oralternate currency (e.g. merchant-specific or limited-use currency), andcoupons. Therefore, the second payout value may be determined by using aformula such as:

Second Payout=(First Payout)+$1.00+[One free entry in a subsequentlottery game].

7. Lottery Entry Database

FIG. 6A depicts a tabular representation of an embodiment of a lotteryticket database 600 corresponding to an on-line lottery game, and FIG.6B depicts a tabular representation of an embodiment of a lottery ticketdatabase 650 corresponding to an instant lottery game. In general,lottery ticket databases such as that shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B storedata associated with eligible lottery tickets and/or lottery entries fora given instance of a lottery game and/or lottery drawing. Such lotteryticket databases may be similar to the lottery game database 400 shownin FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the lottery ticket database 600 includes a gameidentifier field 602 for storing data identifying the particular lotterygame (or type of game) associated with lottery tickets (as defined byother records in the table of FIG. 6A). The lottery ticket database 600may also include a game instance identifier field 604 for storing dataidentifying a particular instance (e.g., a drawing) associated with theparticular lottery game. For example, the information stored in the gameinstance identifier field 604 may include the time and/or the dateinformation identifying the particular instance (for example, thedrawing time and date of winning numbers) of the lottery game.

Each lottery ticket that is eligible for the lottery game identified infield 602 is associated with an expiration date field 606 that storesdata indicative of the last available date by which winning entriesassociated with that lottery game instance may be redeemed for anyredemption value (enhanced, modified or otherwise). This is theexpiration date of the lottery game. For each lottery ticket that iseligible for the identified game and game instance (e.g., an instance ofa drawing for which the entry may be eligible), a lottery ticketidentifier field 608 stores data identifying the eligible ticket(s). Theinformation stored in the lottery ticket identifier field 608 may be anyunique numeric, alphanumeric or other type of code that uniquelyidentifies an eligible lottery ticket for the particular lottery gameinstance identified by the information stored in the game instanceidentifier field 604. In association with the identifier that uniquelyidentifies a given eligible lottery entry, ticket entry/indicia fields610, 612 to 614 store data representing the particular numbers (or otherindicia) comprising the actual lottery entry (e.g., in accordance withan on-line game embodiment) of the corresponding record. As shown, thereare N such fields (where N may be equal to the total amount of numbersto be drawn for that particular lottery). For example, the New YorkState lottery agency operates a daily on-line lottery game called “Pick10”, wherein players select 10 numbers from the ordinal range of 1through 80 (inclusive) by filling in squares on a playcard. The playerthen receives one or more lottery ticket(s) (or entries) for use incomparing their chosen numbers to numbers determined via a randomdrawing (i.e., “winning numbers”). If the database 600 corresponded tosuch a “Pick 10” game, then row R600-1 for ticket T-11111 would includeten fields (one for each number chosen by the player), such thatticket/entry indicia 1 in field 610 is 14, ticket/entry indicia 2 infield 612 is 23, out to the tenth chosen number (shown in ticket/entryindicia N field 614) of 28. Similar data is shown for rows R600-2,R600-3 and R600-N in FIG. 6A. The information stored in these lotteryticket or lottery entry indicia fields will be compared by the operatorcontroller to a given set of winning indicia (e.g., determined inconjunction with the lottery drawing) in order to determine the win orloss status and associated payouts (if any) for each of the eligiblelottery entries within a given game instance (e.g., an instance of adrawing), as described above with respect to FIG. 4.

In addition (though not shown) the ticket database of FIG. 6A mayinclude one or more field(s) operative to store other types of dataidentifying the particular retailer from which the lottery ticket waspurchased, and/or data identifying the time and date of the lotteryticket purchase.

FIG. 6B illustrates an embodiment of a lottery ticket database adaptedfor use in conjunction with an “instant” lottery game. The lotteryticket database of FIG. 6B may include a lottery game identifier field652, which in this example indicates GM-INSTANT-N, for storing dataidentifying the particular game (or type of lottery game) associatedwith the lottery tickets (as defined by records in the table of FIG.6B). For example, the information stored in the game identifier field of652 may comprise or include a version number associated with aparticular game title (e.g., “Joker Poker 2.0”) and/or a unique numericidentifier.

For each instant lottery ticket that is associated with the gameidentifier 652 shown in FIG. 6B, a lottery ticket identifier field 654stores data identifying the eligible ticket(s). The information storedin the lottery ticket identifier field 654 may be any unique numeric,alpha-numeric or other type of code that uniquely identifies a lotteryticket that is eligible for the particular game instance identified bythe information stored in the game identifier field 652. For eachinstant lottery ticket that is associated with the identified gameand/or game instance, a Base Payout/Base Prize field 656 stores datacorresponding to the base payout or default payout associated with theinstant lottery ticket of the corresponding record. Contrary to on-linegames (such as “pick-6”, described above), base or default payouts (andthus redemption values) associated with instant lottery games aretypically predetermined and assigned to respective individual physicallottery tickets at the time of their manufacture (instead of per theresult of a comparison of player chosen indicia to winning indicia).

In accordance with some embodiments, a modified or enhanced redemptionvalue associated with an instant or scratch-off game ticket may bedetermined based on the elapsed time between the initial purchase of thelottery ticket and the actual time of redemption of any particular prizeassociated with that lottery ticket. Accordingly, the ticket database650 includes a Time of Purchase data field 658, a Time of Redemptiondata field 660, and a Premium data field 662.

For example, the data contained in row R650-1 indicates that the lotteryticket 1-555441 is associated with a base payout or base prize of zeroand was purchased on May 1, 2006. Since this ticket is a losing ticket,it will not be redeemed and is not associated with a premium so theindicator N/A (not applicable) appears in data fields 660 and 662. Thedata for ticket 1-555442 shown in row R650-2 indicates that this lotteryticket is also a losing entry and has not yet been purchased. Referringto row R650-3, the lottery ticket 1-555443 is associated with a basepayout of $50.00 as shown in Base Payout/Base Prize field 656. Inaddition, as shown in data fields 658, 660 and 662, lottery ticket1-555443 was purchased on May 10, 2006, redeemed on May 12, 2006, anddid not qualify for a Premium. However, as shown by the data in rowR650-N, ticket 1-950000 was associated with a base payout of $3.00, waspurchased on May 3, 2005, redeemed on May 4, 2006 and was awarded apremium value of $1.00 which was added as a bonus to the $3.00 payout.Thus, in the case of lottery ticket 1-950000, the player collected atotal of $4.00 as the lottery prize ($3.00 base prize+$1.00 premium).

8. Redemption Status Database

FIG. 7 is a tabular representation of an embodiment of a redemptionstatus database 700 that may be utilized by a lottery operatorcontroller. In general, the redemption status database 700 storesinformation that may be used by the lottery operator controller todetermine the redemption value of a lottery ticket. The database 700includes a game identifier field 702 and a game instance identifierfield 704 (both of which have been described above with respect to FIGS.4, 6A and 6B). A game results field 706 is also included for storinginformation identifying a set of winning indicia, in this case thewinning lottery numbers that were drawn (according to an on-line gameembodiment). In the illustrated example, the game results field 706indicates that the results of the lottery game drawing were the numbers03, 11, 16, 19, 33 and 40, and these numbers are associated with thegame GM-DRAW-001. Thus, these numbers are the set of winning numbers forthis particular game instance (for other lottery games, a set of symbolsrather than numbers may be drawn). Based on the information stored inthe game results field 706 and the information in the correspondingentries of the ticket database 600 (see FIG. 6A), at least a firstredemption value or first payout (base or default payout) is determinedfor the winning lottery tickets identified by an entry in theticket/entry identifier field 708 of the corresponding record. Forexample, the initial redemption values and/or payouts may be determinedin a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to variouspayout criteria (and/or game rules) represented in the lottery gamesdatabase of FIG. 4. Upon determination of the initial redemptionvalue/payout, information representing this amount is then stored in the“Available Redemption Value 1” field 710 of the redemption statusdatabase 700.

In accordance with some embodiments, one or more modified redemptionvalues (enhanced values) that is/are different than the initiallydetermined base redemption value may be associated with a particularlottery ticket or lottery entry. The modified redemption value mayinclude a premium in addition to the base redemption value. In addition,the modified redemption value may be associated with the lottery ticketor lottery entry for a limited amount of time (or until the occurrenceof a given event) in order to provide an incentive for players to timelyredeem (all or some) of their winning lottery entries. Upon thedetermination of an enhanced redemption value (as described below),information representing the enhanced redemption value may be stored inthe “Available Redemption Value N” field 712.

For each lottery ticket or lottery entry defined by an entry in theticket status database 700, a redemption status field 714 may storeinformation representing whether or not an available payout associatedwith the given entry has been issued, claimed or awarded. Upon theissuance (or authorization of issuance) of a payout for a given entryand the determination of the actual payout to be provided, informationreflecting the final payout may be stored in the final redemption valuefield 716.

For example, as shown in rows R700-1 and R700-2, for lottery ticketsT-111111 and T-111112 the available redemption value 1 field (which maybe base redemption value data) is zero, which indicates that these twotickets are losing lottery entries and thus the remainder of the datafields for these entries are either not applicable (n/a) or zero.However, for row R700-3, ticket T-111113 is associated with a base valueof $3.00, an enhanced value of $4.00, and was redeemed on Jun. 2, 2006at 10:18 AM. Thus, the final redemption value shown in field 716 is$4.00 (because the player satisfied the criteria for receiving theenhanced redemption value as a prize). As shown in row R700-N, ticketT-222111 has an associated base value of $100.00 and an enhanced valueof $105.00, but is still outstanding (e.g., the ticket has been sold toa player, but the player has not yet redeemed this lottery ticket), andthus the final redemption value is to be determined (TBD).

9. Determining Payouts

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 depicting an embodiment of a method fordetermining a payout associated with an eligible, winning lottery ticketor lottery entry. The method may apply to an instant type lottery game,or to an on-line type game, or to a “hybrid-type” lottery game (whereina hybrid-type lottery game may be defined as a lottery game that hasboth an associated online component (a drawing), and a scratch-offcomponent). As explained above, a winning, eligible lottery ticket maybe defined as a lottery ticket that includes at least one winning entry,and that is associated with a lottery game that has not yet expired. Thelottery operator controller 106 shown in FIG. 1 (and the lotteryoperator controller 300 referred to in FIG. 3) in conjunction with thevarious data structures described herein may perform the method of FIG.8. It should be understood that, although the method of FIG. 8 isdescribed as a series of numeric steps, the numeric designations are notintended to impart or imply a specific order to the steps. Rather, thesteps of the method of FIG. 8 may be performed in any order that ispracticable and may include the addition and/or omission of one or moreparticular steps.

The process illustrated by FIG. 8 begins when a redemption request 802is received that is associated with an eligible, winning lottery ticket.For example, as discussed earlier, the controller 106 of FIG. 1 mayreceive a redemption request by way of the communications network 104from any of the retailer terminal(s) 102-1 to 102-N and then verify thatthe lottery ticket corresponds to a winning entry in a database of alottery game that has not expired. Typically, a player presents alottery ticket for redemption to a lottery terminal operator or clerk ata lottery retailer, who then scans or otherwise enters the ticketidentifier at the retailer terminal. The identifying information is thentransmitted from the lottery retailer terminal to the lottery operatorcontroller, which then compares the ticket identifier and/or otherindicia to data that may be stored in one or more databases.

Referring again to FIG. 8, upon receiving the redemption request in step802, the controller determines a time 804 associated with the redemptionrequest. In various embodiments, the determination of a time associatedwith a redemption request may include determining an actual timeassociated with the request (e.g., by way of the controller clockelement described above with respect to FIG. 3), and/or may includedetermining an elapsed time associated with the redemption request(e.g., the controller may calculate that less than twenty-four hourselapsed since the occurrence of a lottery drawing and the time thelottery ticket was presented for redemption by associating the time ofredemption with a received ticket identifier).

In another embodiment, instead of determining a time associated with theredemption request, a controller may operate on the basis that a basevalue should be associated with a lottery ticket (or with all winninglottery tickets) and the base value may be modified until such time asthe occurrence of a terminating event. For example, players may receivea modified redemption value (e.g., fifty percent more than the basevalue) until such time that a predetermined number of winning lotteryentries and/or lottery tickets having been redeemed. For example,players receive the modified or enhanced redemption value until apredetermined threshold number of redemptions, such as one hundredredemptions, are made.

Continuing with the example embodiment shown in FIG. 8, afterdetermining a time associated with the redemption value 804, the lotteryoperator controller then determines 806 whether the actual and/orelapsed time is less than or equal to a predetermined time value. Forexample, the time of the redemption request may be compared to the timeassociated with a given instance of an online lottery game drawing inorder to determine whether the request to redeem the lottery ticketoccurred within a predetermined elapsed time from the drawing time. Inanother example, the controller may determine the time of the redemptionrequest and compare such data to the time associated with the sale of agiven instant ticket, in order to determine whether the redemptionrequest has occurred within a predetermined elapsed time relative to thesale of the instant ticket (this implementation was described above withrespect to FIG. 5B). According to some embodiments, the controller maydetermine the actual time and/or the elapsed time associated with theredemption request (e.g., via a clock element as described above withrespect to FIG. 3).

In FIG. 8, if it is determined that the time associated with theredemption request in step 806 is not less than or equal to thepredetermined time (an actual and/or an elapsed time), then thecontroller authorizes 808 the issuance of a first payout based on afirst redemption value. For example, the first redemption value maycomprise a base or default redemption value (e.g., non-modified monetaryvalue) that is associated with the lottery entry and/or lottery ticket.In some embodiments, as mentioned earlier, the controller authorizes theissuance of a lottery payout by transmitting information associated withthe determined payout to the appropriate lottery terminal. Suchinformation may then be used to instruct a lottery terminal operator toconfer the payout to the player. The process then continues, and in thisembodiment the controller updates 810 a redemption status field and afinal redemption value field to provide an appropriate record of thelottery transaction in a redemption status database (for example, byupdating the appropriate fields of the redemption status database 700shown in FIG. 7).

However, if it is determined in step 806 that the time associated withthe redemption request is less than or equal to the predetermined time(an actual time and/or an elapsed time), then the lottery controllerdetermines a second redemption value (e.g., a modified monetary value)that is different from the first redemption value. In some embodiments,the modified redemption value is determined in accordance with one ormore payout determination rule(s). For example, a payout determinationrule may include a time (duration, elapsed time or actual time) duringwhich a redemption value associated with a lottery ticket and/or lotteryentry may be modified. Alternatively, the redemption value may bemodified until such time as the occurrence of a predetermined event(e.g., the awarding or issuance of a top prize, a number of winningticket redemptions, an expiration date, and the like), at which pointthe redemption value may be determined to be zero.

According to some embodiments, the modified redemption value may bedetermined by accessing data stored in the available redemption valuefield N of a redemption status database (which was described above withrespect to FIG. 7). In another embodiment, the first redemption valuemay not be modified, but the player may instead be entitled to receivesome alternative (such as a non-cash prize) benefit or premium.

Referring again to FIG. 8, the lottery controller then authorizes 814the issuance of a second payout (which may be an enhanced payout) bytransmitting information associated with the determined payout (modifiedor otherwise) to the appropriate lottery terminal. Such information maythen be used to instruct a lottery terminal operator to confer thesecond payout in cash to the player. The second redemption value maycomprise, for example, a default redemption value (e.g., a non-modifiedmonetary amount or base value) that is modified to include a premium asdescribed above.

After authorizing the issuance of the second payout by transmittinginformation to the appropriate lottery terminal, the controller thenupdates 810 the appropriate field(s) in the redemption status database700 to reflect that the lottery entry and/or lottery ticket has beenredeemed. For example, referring to row R700-3 of FIG. 7, the lotteryentry “T-111113” has a redemption status of “REDEEMED”, a firstavailable redemption value (or first payout value) of “$3.00”, an Nthavailable redemption value (or second payout value) of “$4.00” and afinal redemption value of “$4.00”. Similarly, the lottery entry shown inrow R700-N with ticket identifier “T-222111” has a first redemptionvalue of “$100.00”, and an Nth redemption value of “$105.00” and aredemption status of “OUTSTANDING” (e.g., this lottery entry has not yetbeen redeemed).

II. Additional Embodiments

According to some embodiments, the method may include a notificationsystem that provides redemption reminders to players. The notificationsystem may include reminders transmitted via email, by regular mail, bycell phone text message, by an outgoing call center, by a Wifi system,or some other form of communication. Such reminders may include anindication of a benefit such as a premium that may be provided to aplayer, and/or an indication of when a player is required to redeem thelottery ticket in order to obtain a benefit.

According to some embodiments, the player may be permitted to redeem alottery entry by operating an electronic device. For example, the playermay be permitted to redeem the ticket by utilizing a website, or bymaking a phone call. For example, the player may use the electronicdevice to provide an identifier associated with the winning lotteryentry that enables the lottery administrator to credit the winnings forthe lottery entry to a player account. In some embodiments, players maybe permitted to redeem winning lottery entries by recycling the winningsinto predetermined player accounts.

Some embodiments include the option of providing automated play oflottery games. In various embodiments, a player provides playeridentifying information and player parameter selections to a lotterycontroller or lottery server. The lottery server stores the playerparameter selections and proceeds to initiate automated play of alottery game or of multiple lottery games that have been authorized bythe player. According to various embodiments, the player identifyinginformation and player parameter selections may be entered at a playercommunication device, which may store the information and selectionsand/or transmit the information and selections to the lottery server.According to various embodiments, the player communication device mayinitiate automated play.

The automated lottery play may occur while the player communicationdevice is unattended by the player. Remote communications with theplayer permit the player who is engaged in the automated play to bothenjoy the ongoing play, and to alter any pre-established, limitingcriteria. For example, the player may change criteria relating tofunding, by making appropriate adjustments during the course of theautomated lottery play. In various embodiments, such adjustments may bemade via a communication device, and some limitations may also bealtered remotely. For example, a telephone call to personnel operatingthe lottery server, or an appropriate communication to the lotteryserver itself may suffice. The automated play session ends uponoccurrence of a limiting criterion or upon the termination of theautomated play session by the player. In some embodiments, the limitingcriteria will be the use of the moneys initially authorized for lotteryplay, that is when an account associated with the automated lottery playmode runs out of money then the play session ends. Some configurationsalso provide methods and apparatus for notifying a player when availablecredit is running low, permitting a player to increase the balance of anaccount, or to remotely authorize further funds for continued play. Insome embodiments, the player can also “recycle” winning lottery prizes,and can redeem winning lottery tickets remotely, for example, by goingonline or by using a telephone. Further details regarding such methodsand apparatus can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,611entitled “System and Method for Automated Play of Lottery Games”, whichis assigned to the assignee of the present application and isincorporated in its entirety for all purposes herein.

Some lottery games may be considered as “hybrid” lottery games becausethere is both an associated online component (a drawing), and ascratch-off component. As mentioned above, the present methods may alsobe used for such hybrid lottery games. For example, a method forenticing players of such hybrid-type lottery games to redeem theirwinning lottery entries would be similar to that of the drawing-stylelottery game examples described above, but instead of a one-dollar cashprize (which the customer used in the example above to purchase gourmetcoffee) a one-dollar ($1.00) scratch-off instant ticket or the likewould be issued as a premium or bonus prize. As was noted previously, insome embodiments, scratch-off type lottery tickets can be given aspremiums for playing on-line type lottery games (and/or vise versa).

According to some embodiments, a modified redemption value (e.g., asecond payout or an enhanced payout) may be determined based onalternative or additional factors. For example, a factor may includeother redemptions by the player. For example, each player may be limitedto a single redemption per visit. Alternatively or in addition, in orderto qualify for a premium for redeeming an eligible winning lotteryticket, a player may be limited to a single redemption within a certainperiod of time, for example, once every twenty-four hours, or once everytwo days, and the like, thereby encouraging repeat visits by the playerto the lottery retailer. In some embodiments, the determination ofwhether to authorize a second payout to a player may be based on thenumber of lottery tickets and/or the number of losing lottery ticketsthat a player has purchased in the past, which operation assumes thatthere is a purchase history associated with that player that may beavailable, for example, in a lottery database. In some embodiments, adetermination may be made to increase the value of an enhanced payout ifthe time associated with the request to redeem is less than a secondpredetermined time limit. For example, if the player redeems aneligible, winning instant lottery ticket that is associated with a basevalue of $7.00 within 48 hours of purchase, then he receives anadditional $1.00, but if he redeems the same winning lottery ticketwithin 24 hours of purchase then he receives an additional $2.00instead.

In some embodiments, a premium amount based on one or more modifiedredemption values may be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis.In particular, in an implementation a player's bonus may be determinedbased on when the player elects to redeem. In some embodiments, thepremium may be awarded to lottery players for redemption of winninglottery entries that were purchased early in the lottery game drawingcycle (for example, lottery entries that were purchased on a Monday fora lottery game having a drawing on Saturday may qualify for a premium ifsuch entries turn out to be winning entries). This method promptsplayers to buy early in the lottery game cycle, which may result inprotracting the advertisement of increased jackpots (i.e., the soonerplayers buy lottery tickets in a particular lottery game, the sooner thelottery operator can increase the jackpot, and the longer the lotteryoperator can advertise the increasing size of the lottery jackpot).

In another embodiment, the determination to pay a premium value inaddition to a default value for a winning lottery entry may be randomlydecided. For example, a player may qualify to receive a base value uponredemption of an eligible, winning lottery ticket, plus a potentialbonus amount (for example, double the value of the redemption) based ona random determination. According to some embodiments, the randomdetermination may be associated with or based on a redemption (or apurchase) time and/or date, on a redeeming retailer (e.g., allredemptions with respect to a game instance occurring at a particularretailer (or type of retailer) may be eligible for a modified redemptionvalue), on a particular game ticket or lottery game instance, on aplayer ID, or the like.

In some embodiments, the decision of whether to authorize an enhancedpayout may depend on one or more other purchases made by the player. Forexample, a player may receive a premium amount (e.g., a second monetaryamount that is larger than a first payout, or a default payout) if theplayer purchases (or agrees to purchase) $100.00 in retailer merchandiseduring the redemption visit. In yet other embodiments, the decision asto whether to authorize a second payout amount may depend upon one ormore purchases made by other players. For example, the redemption valueof an eligible, wining lottery ticket may be determined based on howmany players have purchased lottery tickets for the next lottery gamedrawing (or how many tickets have been sold, regardless of the number ofpurchasing players). In some embodiments, the determination of whetherto authorize an enhanced payout may depend on the number or value ofredemptions made at a specific lottery retailer establishment, forexample. This method may be beneficial to lottery retailers becauselottery players could be encouraged (e.g., by advertisements and/ormessages via email and the like) to seek out lesser-visited (orhigher-volume) lottery retailers in order to redeem their winninglottery tickets and obtain enhanced payouts. These players may be morelikely to spend at least a portion of their winnings at the lotteryretailer's store, and thus such a program may be used by the lotteryagency to encourage lottery retailers to sell more tickets, or could beused to reward high-volume sellers (e.g., the lottery agency canbroadcast the names and locations of lottery retailers who areauthorized to award payout premiums for winning lottery entries bytaking advertisements on the internet, or on the radio, or ontelevision, for example, either as a reward for high-volume lotteryretailers, or as an incentive for lower volume retailers to increasetheir sales).

III. Example Application

In one hypothetical scenario in accordance with one or more embodiments,a customer buys a one-dollar ($1.00) drawing-style (online) lotteryticket from ABC Mart on his way home from work on a Friday night. Hewatches the drawing on television on Saturday night, and determines thathis ticket was a ten-dollar ($10.00) winner. He noticed that an area onthe back of the lottery ticket reads: “Did you win $10 or less? Redeemyour winning entry no later than 24 hours immediately after the drawingand receive a 10% instant cash bonus prize! All prizes expire 1 yearfrom date of drawing.” The player decides to return to the ABC Martstore on Sunday morning to redeem his wining lottery ticket, and planson using the extra one-dollar ($1.00) cash bonus prize to treat himselfto a cup of gourmet coffee.

On Sunday morning, the player drives his car to the ABC Mart, parks thevehicle in the lot next to the store, walks in and presents his winninglottery ticket to the clerk who scans the ticket using a scanning devicecoupled to a lottery terminal. The lottery system (i.e., the terminalwhich is in communication with a central lottery server) then confirmsthat (i) the ticket was a ten-dollar ($10.00) winner, and (ii) becausethe customer redeemed the winning lottery ticket within a 24 hour “bonustime frame”, the lottery system authorizes and records a payment of anadditional one-dollar ($1.00) cash bonus prize in addition to theten-dollar ($10.00) default or base prize (for a second payout value ofeleven-dollars ($11.00)). The customer elects to keep the ten-dollarprize payout, and uses the extra one-dollar ($1.00) prize to purchase acup of ABC Mart gourmet coffee. Consequently, as illustrated in theexample application described above, by making the prize easilyattainable and more meaningful to the customer, the customer left thelottery retailer pleased, ABC Mart enjoyed valuable repeat foot trafficby profiting on the sale of the cup of coffee, and the state lotteryoperator (i) positively reinforced the winning experience by quicklygetting cash into the player's hands and (ii) was able to get thenominal or small prize off its books and into the overall “paid prizetally” which can be used in advertisements of future lottery games.

The above illustrative process may also be used in connection with aninstant-type of lottery game. For example, a customer buys athree-dollar ($3.00) scratch-off-style (instant) lottery ticket from theXYZ Gas Station during a fill-up on his way home from work. As part ofthe lottery ticket purchase, the XYZ gas station clerk scans the ticketto allow the lottery system to record the time and the date of theticket's sale. Deciding that he has a few minutes, the customerscratches the ticket while waiting for the gas station attendant andrealizes that he has just won a seven-dollar ($7.00) prize. The customerthen decides to redeem his winnings, and notices an area on the back ofthe ticket that reads: “Did you win a cash prize of $20 or less? Redeemyour winning ticket no later than 24 hours immediately following ticketpurchase and receive a FREE $1 scratch-off game ticket in addition toyour cash prize! Note: All tickets and prizes expire 1 year from date ofsale of last available top prize ticket.” After reading thenotification, the customer presents his ticket to the XYZ Gas Stationclerk, who then scans the winning ticket into the lottery system. Thelottery system then (i) determines that the winning ticket has anassociated base (or first) payout of $7.00, (ii) determines that thewinning ticket is being redeemed within 24 hours immediately followingthe ticket's purchase, and (iii) prompts the XYZ Gas Station clerk toprovide the player with a seven-dollar ($7.00) cash payout andone-dollar ($1.00) scratch ticket from available stock (which may beeither a specific type of one-dollar lottery game or a comparablelottery game of the customer's choosing). As in the previous example,the process makes it easy for the player to attain the prize and makesit more meaningful, so that the customer leaves the lottery retailerpleased, the customer identifies the XYZ Gas Station with a positiveexperience and will probably return in the future, and the state lotteryoperator (i) positively reinforced the winning experience by quicklygetting cash and another lottery entry into the player's hands and (ii)was able to get the nominal or small prize off its books and into theoverall “paid prize tally” which can be used in advertisements of futurelottery games.

It should be noted that the above examples are non-limiting,illustrative descriptions only, and have been included herein for thesake of clarity to demonstrate how processes according to someembodiments could be utilized with regard to several example lotterygames.

The present methods and apparatus presented herein provide numerousbenefits to players, lottery retailers and to lottery operators. Inparticular, customers (i.e., lottery players) are provided with theability to realize higher overall payouts and are fairly rewarded forpromptly redeeming winning lottery entries, even for lottery ticketsthat are associated with nominal or low payouts. With an improvement inoverall lottery redemptions, lottery operators are able to advertisehigher total payouts and/or prize tallies (e.g., “to date, the New YorkState Lottery has awarded $X million in prizes to players”). Lotteryretailers also benefit from increased customer visits and resultantincremental sales opportunities. The resulting increase in redemptionfrequency may also translate or correspond to an increase in thefrequency with which players elect to play lottery games.

IV. Rules of Interpretation

Numerous embodiments have been described, and are presented forillustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not intendedto be limiting in any sense. The invention is widely applicable tonumerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure herein.These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical,software, electrical and other changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, those skilled inthe art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations. Although particular features ofthe present invention may be described with reference to one or moreparticular embodiments or figures that form a part of the presentdisclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specificembodiments of the invention, it should be understood that such featuresare not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments orfigures with reference to which they are described. The presentdisclosure is thus neither a literal description of all embodiments ofthe invention nor a listing of features of the invention that must bepresent in all embodiments.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “anexample embodiment”, “at least one embodiment”, “one or moreembodiments” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not necessarilyall) embodiments of the present invention(s)” unless expressly specifiedotherwise. The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereofmean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “consisting of” and variations thereof mean “including andlimited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of theitems are mutually exclusive. The enumerated listing of items does notimply that any or all of the items are collectively exhaustive ofanything, unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listingof items does not imply that the items are ordered in any manneraccording to the order in which they are enumerated.

The term “comprising at least one of” followed by a listing of itemsdoes not imply that a component or subcomponent from each item in thelist is required. Rather, it means that one or more of the items listedmay comprise the item specified. For example, if it is said “wherein Acomprises at least one of: a, b and c” it is meant that (i) A maycomprise a, (ii) A may comprise b, (iii) A may comprise c, (iv) A maycomprise a and b, (v) A may comprise a and c, (vi) A may comprise b andc, or (vii) A may comprise a, b and c.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “based on” means “based at least on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The methods described herein (regardless of whether they are referred toas methods, processes, algorithms, calculations, and the like)inherently include one or more steps. Therefore, all references to a“step” or “steps” of such a method have antecedent basis in the mererecitation of the term ‘method’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a method is deemed tohave sufficient antecedent basis.

Headings of sections provided in this document and the title are forconvenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure inany way.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with eachother may communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required, orthat each of the disclosed components must communicate with every othercomponent. On the contrary a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent invention.

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in thisdocument does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that thesteps be performed in that order. The steps of processes describedherein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps maybe performed simultaneously despite being described or implied asoccurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described afterthe other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by itsdepiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process isexclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not implythat the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to theinvention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmedgeneral purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor(e.g., a microprocessor or controller device) will receive instructionsfrom a memory or like storage device, and execute those instructions,thereby performing a process defined by those instructions. Further,programs that implement such methods and algorithms may be stored andtransmitted using a variety of known media.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described herein (whether ornot they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a singledevice/article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle.

The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternativelyembodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly describedas having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of thepresent invention need not include the device itself.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may beread by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may takemany forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatilemedia, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example,optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile mediamay include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typicallyconstitutes the main memory. Transmission media may include coaxialcables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires or otherpathways that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor.Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves andelectromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radiofrequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM,DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, aFLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave asdescribed hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such asTransmission Control Protocol, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any schematic illustrationsand accompanying descriptions of any sample databases presented hereinare illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information.Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggestedby the tables shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databasesrepresent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art willunderstand that the number and content of the entries can be differentfrom those illustrated herein. Further, despite any depiction of thedatabases as tables, other formats (including relational databases,object-based models and/or distributed databases) could be used to storeand manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methodsor behaviors of a database can be used to implement the processes of thepresent invention. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, bestored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such adatabase.

It should also be understood that, to the extent that any term recitedin the claims is referred to elsewhere in this document in a mannerconsistent with a single meaning, that is done for the sake of clarityonly, and it is not intended that any such term be so restricted, byimplication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless aclaim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a functionwithout reciting any structure, it is not intended that the scope of anyclaim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112,sixth paragraph.

Although the present invention has been described with respect topreferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will note thatvarious substitutions and modifications may be made to those embodimentsdescribed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. A method, comprising: receiving a request to redeem a lottery entry;determining that the lottery entry is a winning entry; determining atime associated with the request to redeem; and determining which one ofa first payout or a second payout to authorize for the winning lotteryentry, based on whether the time associated with the request to redeemis greater than a predetermined value.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising authorizing the second payout if the time associated with therequest to redeem is not greater than the predetermined value.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising authorizing the first payout ifthe time associated with the request to redeem is greater than thepredetermined value.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payoutis greater than the first payout.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst payout comprises a base amount and the second payout comprises avalue equal to the base amount plus a premium.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the premium comprises at least one of a cash value, a non-cashprize, a percentage of the base amount, a credit, a store credit, adiscount coupon, frequent flyer miles, a lottery game entry, and arebate.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent toreceiving the request to redeem a lottery entry, voiding the lotteryentry if the time corresponds to a date greater than a lottery gameexpiration date.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providingpayment to at least one of a player and a player account.
 9. The methodof claim 1, which further comprises receiving the request to redeem alottery entry via at least one of a retailer terminal, a personalcomputer, a kiosk, a telephone, a cell phone, a personal digitalassistant device, and an electronic device.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising authorizing the second payout based on at least onefactor.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one factorcomprises at least one of a predetermined number of redemptions made bya player, a purchase made by the player, purchases made by otherplayers, a total number of lottery entries purchased by the player, atotal number of losing lottery entries purchased by the player, and arandom value.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least onefactor comprises at least one of a predetermined maximum number ofmatching lottery selections on a lottery entry and a predefined lowvalue for a lottery entry.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the atleast one factor comprises at least one of a number of redemptionsprocessed by at least one retailer, and a predefined amount of winningentries redeemed by at least one retailer.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the time associated with the request to redeemcomprises calculating a period of time between a time the lottery entrywas purchased and a time the request to redeem the lottery entry isreceived.
 15. The method of claim 14, which further comprises increasingthe value of the second payout if the time associated with the requestto redeem is less than a second predetermined time limit.
 16. The methodof claim 1, wherein determining the time associated with the request toredeem comprises calculating a period of time between a time of alottery drawing associated with the lottery entry and a time the requestto redeem the lottery entry is received.
 17. The method of claim 1,which further comprises authorizing the second payout according to atleast one rule.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least onerule comprises a requirement to present the winning lottery entry priorto at least one of: an award of a predetermined threshold number ofprizes; an award of a predetermined threshold amount of prize money; theexpiration of a deadline calculated from a start date of the lotterygame; the expiration of a deadline calculated from the purchase date ofthe lottery entry; the expiration of a deadline calculated from adrawing date of the lottery; and the expiration of a deadline calculatedfrom a date of an award of a lottery jackpot prize.
 19. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising notifying a player of at least oneredemption condition associated with receiving the second payout. 20.The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one redemption conditioncomprises presenting winning lottery entries for redemption before atleast one of a deadline, and an occurrence of a predefined event. 21.The method of claim 19, which further comprises notifying the player ofthe redemption condition by providing at least one message via at leastone of printed matter on the lottery entry, email, telephone, a kiosk,cell phone, set-top device, PDA, and mail.
 22. The method of claim 1,further comprising reminding a player to redeem the lottery entry. 23.The method of claim 22, which further comprises notifying the player byutilizing at least one of email, telephone, cell phone, set-top device,PDA, and mail.
 24. The method of claim 22, which further comprises anindication of at least one of a benefit, a deadline for collecting thefirst payout, a value of the first payout, a deadline for collecting asecond payout, and a value of the second payout.
 25. The method of claim1, wherein the lottery entry comprises at least one of a drawing-stylelottery ticket, an instant lottery ticket, a scratch-off lottery ticket,and an on-line lottery ticket.
 26. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising authorizing the first payout if at least one terminationevent occurs.
 27. The method of claim 28, wherein the termination eventcomprises at least one of expiration of a second payout deadline,redemption of a lottery grand prize, payouts of a predetermined numberof winning lottery entries, and a predetermined total payout value ofwinning lottery entries.
 28. The method of claim 1, further comprisingstoring lottery data in a memory.
 29. The method of claim 28, whereinthe lottery data comprises at least one of a final redemption status anda final payout value, wherein the final payout value corresponds to atleast one of the first payout and the second payout.
 30. The method ofclaim 28, wherein the lottery data comprises at least one of firstpayout value data, second payout value data, lottery game data, alottery entry purchase time and date, a lottery entry redemption timeand date, a lottery entry identifier, a first payout deadline, retailerdata, and player data.
 31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:retrieving second payout data from a lottery database; and transmittingthe second payout data to at least one of a retailer terminal and aplayer device.
 32. A computer readable medium storing instructionsconfigured to direct a processor to perform the method of claim
 1. 33.The computer readable medium of claim 32, which further comprisesinstructions configured to direct a processor to authorize the secondpayout if the time associated with the request to redeem is not greaterthan the predetermined value.
 34. The computer readable medium of claim32, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to authorize the first payout if the time associated with therequest to redeem is greater than the predetermined value.
 35. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 32, which further comprisesinstructions configured to direct a processor to, subsequent toreceiving the request to redeem a lottery entry, void the lottery entryif the time associated with the request to redeem corresponds to a dategreater than a lottery game expiration date.
 36. The computer readablemedium of claim 32, which further comprises instructions configured todirect a processor to provide payment to at least one of a player and aplayer account.
 37. The computer readable medium of claim 32, whichfurther comprises instructions configured to direct a processor toreceive the request to redeem a lottery entry via at least one of aretailer terminal, a personal computer, a kiosk, a telephone, a cellphone, a personal digital assistant device, and an electronic device.38. The computer readable medium of claim 32, which further comprisesinstructions configured to direct a processor to determine the timeassociated with the request to redeem by calculating a period of timeusing a time the lottery entry was purchased and a time the request toredeem the lottery entry is received.
 39. The computer readable mediumof claim 38, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to calculate an increased value for the second payout if thetime associated with the request to redeem is equal to or less than asecond predetermined value.
 40. The computer readable medium of claim32, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to determine the time associated with the request to redeem bycalculating a period of time using a time of a lottery drawingassociated with the lottery entry and a time the request to redeem thelottery entry is received.
 41. The computer readable medium of claim 32,which further comprises instructions configured to direct a processor tonotify a player of at least one redemption condition associated withreceiving the first payout.
 42. The computer readable medium of claim32, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to remind a player to redeem a lottery entry.
 43. The computerreadable medium of claim 32, which further comprises instructionsconfigured to direct a processor to authorize the first payout if atleast one termination event occurs.
 44. The computer readable medium ofclaim 32, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to store lottery data in a memory.
 45. The computer readablemedium of claim 32, which further comprises instructions configured todirect a processor to: retrieve second payout data from a lotterydatabase; and transmit the second payout data to at least one of aretailer terminal and a player device.
 46. A method, comprising:receiving a request to redeem an eligible lottery entry; determiningthat the lottery entry is a winning entry; and determining whether toauthorize a first payout or a second payout, wherein the second payoutis authorized if a predefined event has not yet occurred.
 47. The methodof claim 46, wherein the second payout is greater than the first payout.48. The method of claim 47, wherein the second payout comprises a valueequal to the first payout plus a premium.
 49. The method of claim 48,wherein the premium comprises at least one of a cash value, a non-cashprize, a percentage of the first payout, a credit, a store credit, adiscount coupon, frequent flyer miles, a lottery game entry, and arebate.
 50. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing paymentto at least one of a player and a player account.
 51. The method ofclaim 46, wherein the predefined event comprises at least one of: anaward of a predetermined threshold number of prizes; an award of apredetermined threshold amount of prize money; the expiration of adeadline calculated from a start date of the lottery game; theexpiration of a deadline calculated from the purchase date of thelottery entry; the expiration of a deadline calculated from a drawingdate of the lottery; and the expiration of a deadline calculated fromthe date of an award of a lottery jackpot prize.
 52. The method of claim46, which further comprises receiving the request to redeem the eligiblelottery entry via at least one of a retailer terminal, a personalcomputer, a kiosk, a telephone, a cell phone, a personal digitalassistant device, and an electronic device.
 53. The method of claim 46,which further comprises determining the second payout value based on atleast one factor.
 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least onefactor comprises at least one of a predetermined number of redemptionsmade by a player, a purchase made by the player, purchases made by otherplayers, a total number of lottery entries purchased by the player, atotal number of losing lottery entries purchased by the player, and arandom value.
 55. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least onefactor comprises at least one of a predetermined maximum number ofmatching lottery selections on a lottery entry and a predefined lowvalue for a lottery entry.
 56. The method of claim 53, wherein the atleast one factor comprises at least one of a number of redemptionsprocessed by at least one retailer, and a predefined amount of winningentries redeemed by at least one retailer.
 57. The method of claim 46,wherein the predefined event comprises at least one of: an award of apredetermined threshold number of prizes; an award of a predeterminedthreshold amount of prize money; the expiration of a deadline calculatedfrom a start date of the lottery game; the expiration of a deadlinecalculated from the purchase date of the lottery entry; the expirationof a deadline calculated from a drawing date of the lottery; and theexpiration of a deadline calculated from a date of an award of a lotteryjackpot prize.
 58. The method of claim 46, further comprising notifyinga player of the predefined event associated with receiving the firstpayout.
 59. The method of claim 58, which further comprises notifyingthe player of predefined event by providing at least one message via atleast one of printed matter on the lottery entry, email, telephone, akiosk, cell phone, set-top device, PDA, and mail.
 60. The method ofclaim 58, which further comprises notifying the player of at least oneof a benefit, a deadline for collecting the first payout, a value of thefirst payout, a deadline for collecting a second payout, and a value ofthe second payout.
 61. The method of claim 46, wherein the lottery entrycomprises at least one of a drawing-style lottery ticket, an instantlottery ticket, a scratch-off lottery ticket, and an on-line lotteryticket.
 62. The method of claim 46, further comprising storing lotterydata in a memory.
 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the lottery datacomprises at least one of a final redemption status and a final payoutvalue, wherein the final payout value corresponds to at least one of thefirst payout and the second payout.
 64. The method of claim 62, whereinthe lottery data comprises at least one of first payout value data,second payout value data, lottery game data, a lottery entry purchasetime and date, a lottery entry redemption time and date, a lottery entryidentifier, at least one first payout deadline, retailer data, andplayer data.
 65. The method of claim 46, further comprising; retrievingsecond payout data from a lottery database; and transmitting the secondpayout data to at least one of a retailer terminal and a player device.66. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to directa processor to perform the method of claim
 46. 67. The computer readablemedium of claim 66, which further comprises instructions configured todirect a processor to provide payment to at least one of a player and aplayer account.
 68. The computer readable medium of claim 66, whichfurther comprises instructions configured to direct the processor toauthorize the second payout if at least one of the followingpredetermined events has not yet occurred: an award of a predeterminedthreshold number of prizes; an award of a predetermined threshold amountof prize money; the expiration of a deadline calculated from a startdate of the lottery game; the expiration of a deadline calculated fromthe purchase date of the lottery entry; the expiration of a deadlinecalculated from a drawing date of the lottery; and the expiration of adeadline calculated from the date of an award of a lottery jackpotprize.
 69. The computer readable medium of claim 66, which furthercomprises instructions configured to direct a processor to determine thesecond payout value based on at least one of a predetermined number ofredemptions made by a player, a purchase made by the player, purchasesmade by other players, a total number of lottery entries purchased bythe player, a total number of losing lottery entries purchased by theplayer, and a random value.
 70. The computer readable medium of claim66, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to determine the second payout value based on at least one ofa predetermined maximum number of matching lottery selections on alottery entry and a predefined low value for a lottery entry.
 71. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 66, which further comprisesinstructions configured to direct a processor to determine the secondpayout value based on at least one of a number of redemptions processedby at least one retailer, and a predefined amount of winning entriesredeemed by at least one retailer.
 72. The computer readable medium ofclaim 66, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to notify a player of the predefined event associated withreceiving the second payout.
 73. The computer readable medium of claim66, which further comprises instructions configured to direct aprocessor to notify the player of at least one of a benefit, a deadlinefor collecting the first payout, a value of the first payout, a deadlinefor collecting a second payout, and a value of the second payout. 74.The computer readable medium of claim 66, which further comprisesinstructions configured to direct a processor to store lottery data in amemory.
 75. The computer readable medium of claim 66, which furthercomprises instructions configured to direct a processor to store atleast one of a final redemption status and a final payout value, whereinthe final payout value corresponds to at least one of the first payoutand the second payout.
 76. The computer readable medium of claim 66,which further comprises instructions configured to direct a processor tostore at least one of first payout value data, second payout value data,lottery game data, a lottery entry purchase time and date, a lotteryentry redemption time and date, a lottery entry identifier, a firstpayout deadline, retailer data, and player data.
 77. The computerreadable medium of claim 66, which further comprises instructionsconfigured to direct a processor to authorize the second payout byretrieving second payout data from a lottery database, and bytransmitting the second payout data to at least one of a retailerterminal and a player device.
 78. A method, comprising: receiving aredemption request for a winning lottery entry; and determining whetherto authorize a base payout or an enhanced payout, wherein the enhancedpayout is authorized if the redemption request occurred prior to anaward of a predetermined threshold amount of prize money.
 79. The methodof claim 78, which further comprises authorizing the base payout if thelottery entry is presented for redemption subsequent to at least one of:an award of a predetermined threshold number of prizes; an award of thegrand prize for the lottery game; the expiration of a deadlinecalculated from the start date of the lottery game; the expiration of adeadline calculated from the purchase date of the lottery entry; theexpiration of a deadline calculated from a drawing date of the lotterygame; and the expiration of a deadline calculated from a date of anaward of a lottery jackpot prize.
 80. A computer readable medium storinginstructions configured to direct a processor to perform the method ofclaim
 78. 81. A method, comprising: receiving a redemption request for alottery entry; determining that the lottery entry is a winning entry;and determining whether to authorize a base payout or an enhancedpayout, wherein the enhanced payout is greater than the base payout andis authorized if the redemption request occurred prior to the expirationof a deadline calculated from the purchase date of the lottery entry.82. The method of claim 81, which further comprises authorizing the basepayout if the lottery entry is presented for redemption subsequent to atleast one of: an award of a predetermined threshold amount of prizemoney; an award of a predetermined threshold number of prizes; an awardof the grand prize for the lottery game; the expiration of a deadlinecalculated from the start date of the lottery game; the expiration of adeadline calculated from a drawing date of the lottery game; and theexpiration of a deadline calculated from a date of an award of a lotteryjackpot prize.
 83. A computer readable medium storing instructionsconfigured to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 81.